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REPORT ON
COUNTRY
REPORT
2020/01

FEBRUARY
2020
           CITIZENSHIP LAW:
           PORTUGAL

           AUTHORED BY
           ANA RITA GIL AND
           NUNO PIÇARRA
© Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra, 2020
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European University Institute.

Global Citizenship Observatory (GLOBALCIT)
Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
in collaboration with
Edinburgh University Law School

Report on Citizenship Law: Portugal
RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1
February 2020

Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra, 2020
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GLOBALCIT

GLOBALCIT is the successor of EUDO CITIZENSHIP, which has been the key reference for the
study of citizenship and the franchise between 2009 and 2017. With the geographic expansion of the
Observatory’s scope the new name reflects our worldwide coverage.
GLOBALCIT provides the most comprehensive source of information on the acquisition and loss of
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on current citizenship trends, media news on matters of citizenship policy and various other resources
for research and policy-making.
Research for the 2019 GLOBALCIT Reports has been supported by the European University
Institute’s Global Governance Programme, and the British Academy Research Project CITMODES
(co-directed by the EUI and the University of Edinburgh).
The financial support from these projects is gratefully acknowledged.
For more information see: www.globalcit.eu
Report on Citizenship Law
                                              Portugal

                                Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra1

1. Introduction

The current Portuguese citizenship legislation2 has two distinct objectives: first, to keep and
increase the links between Portugal and its expatriates, and second, to respond to the reality of
Portugal as an immigration country and, therefore, to be inclusive regarding those who choose
the country as a place to live.
        Portugal had a tradition of favouring ius soli which dated back to the seventeenth century
and was continued by the 1959 Act. The 1981 Act, approved in the context of a large Portuguese
emigration, ended this tradition and introduced the prevalence of the ius sanguinis principle. In
2006, this Act was profoundly amended by a reform which broadened the modes for the
acquisition of Portuguese citizenship. This reform has maintained and, in some aspects, has
even reinforced the ius sanguinis principle, taking in consideration the large community of
Portuguese descendants who reside abroad. At the same time, it also created new ways to
acquire citizenship through ius soli, taking in consideration the inclusion of the immigrants of
second and third generations. These objectives were strengthened in 2018, with a new reform
introduced by Organic Law 2/2018. The inclusion objective is favoured by the complete
acceptance of dual citizenship, which has been in force since 1981.
        The current citizenship policy foresees a mixed system for the acquisition of citizenship
at birth. However, this still gives prevalence to the ius sanguinis principle despite the creation
and expansion of new forms of citizenship acquisition through ius soli. In fact, the descendants
of Portuguese citizens who live abroad are Portuguese at birth (they just have to declare their
wish to be Portuguese or to register the birth in the Portuguese register of births). By contrast,
the ius soli principle is not considered to be an autonomous criterion for acquiring Portuguese
citizenship. Additional conditions, besides birth in Portuguese territory, are always required,
such as the residence of one of the parents in the Portuguese territory for a certain period of
time.
        Since the reform of 2006, naturalisation can be achieved in two distinct ways. In some
circumstances, it depends on a discretionary decision made by the Minister of Justice. In other
situations, if applicants meet the legal requirements, they have a real subjective right to

1
  The authors used parts of the chapter on Portuguese nationality by Constança Urbano de Sousa and Maria
Baganha published in Bauböck (2006). This report was updated in November 2019.
2
  Law 37/81 of 3 October, as amended by Law 25/94 of 19 August, by Organic Law 1/2004 of 15 January and by
Organic Law 2/2006 of 17 April 2006.

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naturalisation. Such a right is also recognised for minors. In some circumstances, naturalisation
is allowed even if residence in Portuguese territory is not legal.
        The Portuguese Constitution uses the term ‘citizenship’, instead of ‘nationality’.
However, the Portuguese statutory act is called the ‘Nationality Act’. This is despite the
criticisms of several scholars regarding the disparity between the statutory terminology and the
Constitution (Silva 2004: 96). The term ‘citizenship’ is considered to be more neutral from
cultural and historical points of view (Silva 2004:19), since the term ‘nationality’ recalls the
nationalist philosophy of the New State period, which the post-revolutionary Constitution of
1976 aimed to avoid. Some legal scholars also argue that the term ‘nationality’ is less concise
(Miranda 2004:99), since it describes belonging to a nation, and not to a state. The term
‘citizenship’, therefore, would give more relevance to public participation in a democratic state.
Furthermore, the exact meaning of these two concepts is not the same. Nationality is a broader
concept than citizenship, as the legal person and some property (such as ships and aircrafts) can
posses a nationality, but citizenship can only be possessed by people. From a different point of
view, however, the citizenship concept can be broader than the concept of nationality. In
Portugal there are some statuses of quasi-citizenship by which citizenship rights are given to
people who do not have Portuguese nationality. This is the case of nationals of Lusophone
countries living in Portugal who enjoy wide-ranging rights as far as political participation and
access to public office are concerned. The movement towards a concept of citizenship which is
disengaged from nationality goes beyond this special status. Any alien who resides in Portugal
has the right to vote and be elected in local government elections, according to art. 15(4) of the
Constitution, provided that there is reciprocity so that Portuguese citizens can enjoy equivalent
voting rights in the alien’s country of citizenship. Normally, however, the two terms are used
synonymously. In this report we will use the term citizenship, as this is a more accurate term in
a juridical context, when referring to the status of full membership in a democratic state.

2. Historical background

2.1 The roots of Portuguese citizenship law: the 1603 Ordinations of King Philip

The 1603 Ordination or compilation of legislation, ordered by King Philip, led to the first legal
arrangements for citizenship in Portugal (Title LV of the Second Book). Only the acquisition
of citizenship at birth was regulated, and this established a mixed system which gave prevalence
to ius soli. Children with Portuguese fathers (ius sanguinis a pater3) were only Portuguese if
they were born in Portugal (both ius soli and ius sanguinis); if they were born abroad they were
not Portuguese unless their father (or mother, if the child was illegitimate) was in the king’s or
the crown’s service.
        On the other hand, pure ius soli was not present. Legitimate children born in Portugal to
a foreign father were only Portuguese if the father had been living in Portugal for at least ten
years and had property there (Ramos 1992: 7-13; Gonçalves 1929: 511).

3
 Ius sanguinis a mater was only relevant if the child was illegitimate. Discrimination against nationality being
passed on by the mother influenced Portuguese law until 1976, when the III Portuguese Republic enshrined the
principle of spousal equality and equality of children born in and outside wedlock (art. 36 of the Constitution).

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2.2. Citizenship law in the monarchical constitutionalism of the nineteenth century

The 1822 Constitution, signed on 23 September, marked the beginning of Portuguese
constitutionalism. Regarding acquisition of citizenship at birth, the 1822 Constitution kept the
mixed system inherited from the Ordinations of King Philip but also gave a predominant role
to ius sanguinis a pater (Ramos 1992: 15). Thus, according to art. 21(I) and (II), children born
in Portugal to a Portuguese father (or a Portuguese mother if they were illegitimate) were
considered Portuguese. A more important role was given to ius sanguinis, since the children of
a Portuguese father (or the illegitimate children of a Portuguese mother) who were born outside
Portugal were considered Portuguese, provided they took up residence in Portugal.4 The scope
of ius soli was reduced, since children born to a foreign father in Portugal were only considered
Portuguese if they lived in Portugal and, upon reaching the age of majority, declared that they
wanted to be Portuguese (art. 21(V)). That art. 21(III) considered children of unknown parents
found in Portugal to be Portuguese was not a concession to ius soli, but rather a measure against
statelessness (Ramos 1992: 21). Lastly, art. 21(V) granted Portuguese citizenship to freed
slaves.5
       Regarding the acquisition of citizenship after birth, art. 21(VI) of the 1822 Constitution
foresaw the need for discretionary naturalisation. Naturalisation could only be granted to
foreign adults living on Portuguese soil if they were married to a Portuguese woman, if they
had acquired a trading, farming or industrial establishment in Portugal, or if they had performed
relevant services to the nation.
       Art. 23 foresaw two grounds for the loss of Portuguese citizenship: naturalisation in
another country or the acceptance, without government permission, of employment, honours or
pensions from a foreign government.
       The 1826 Constitutional Charter, in force for two short periods (1826-1828 and 1834-
1836), was restored in 1842 and remained in force until the republic was declared in 1910. It
kept the mixed system of acquisition of citizenship at birth, however, it placed a greater
emphasis on ius soli since it considered all those born on Portuguese soil to be Portuguese.6
        Ius sanguinis continued to be subject to residence in Portugal. The child of a Portuguese
father (or the illegitimate child of a Portuguese mother) was only Portuguese if the father lived
in Portugal, except if the father was abroad on the crown’s service.
        The only way foreseen in the Charter to acquire citizenship after birth was naturalisation,
with art. 7(2) referring to an ordinary law to set the conditions for conferment. The Decree of
22 October 1836 foresaw three requirements for the naturalisation of foreign citizens: being at
the age of maturity, having completed two years’ residence7 (unless descended from a
Portuguese), and having the ability to acquire means of subsistence (art. 1).

4
  Residence in Portugal was not required if the father (but not the mother) was abroad on the crown’s service, in
which case ius sanguinis was fully applicable.
5
  This could be considered acquisition at birth since, legally speaking, the slave was only ‘born’ and became a
person, when freed (Ramos 1992: 22).
6
  This prevalence of ius soli is due to the influence of the Brazilian constitution, which was its source of
inspiration (Ramos 1992: 63).
7
  The period of residence could be shortened or dispensed with should the foreign citizen meet one of the
following conditions: being married to a Portuguese woman; being politically pursued for his defence of the
representative system; having built or improved a road in Portugal; having made a considerable capital
investment in banking, commerce or industry; having established himself as an industrialist or trader; having
performed relevant services; or having performed acts which benefited Portuguese citizens (art. 4).

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        Art. 8 included, in addition to the causes listed in the 1822 Constitution, loss of
citizenship as a consequence of banishment.
        The 1838 Constitution stayed in force until 1842 when the 1826 Constitutional Charter
was restored. During this period, ius sanguinis dominated citizenship law. Art. 6(I) of the 1838
Constitution stated that the child of a Portuguese father was Portuguese, whether the child was
born in Portugal or not (ius sanguinis a pater). Two new features were brought in concerning
ius sanguinis a mater: on the one hand, an illegitimate child born to a Portuguese mother was
Portuguese if born in Portugal; if the child was born abroad it was only Portuguese if it took up
residence in Portugal. On the other hand, ius sanguinis a mater became relevant for legitimate
children, since the child born to a Portuguese mother and a foreign father would be Portuguese
if he or she was born in Portugal and did not declare a preference for other citizenship.
         Regarding the loss of citizenship, art. 7, like art. 8 of the 1826 Constitutional Charter,
set out three causes: a criminal conviction which meant the loss of citizenship, naturalisation in
a foreign country, or acceptance, without government permission, of an honour or reward from
a foreign government.

2.3. The 1867 Civil Code: mixed system with the prevalence of ius soli

The 1867 Civil Code adopted a mixed system of acquisition of citizenship at birth, with
prevalence being given to ius soli, although it was of less influence than in the Charter (Ramos
1992: 30). Art. 18 stated that children born on Portuguese soil to a Portuguese father (or
illegitimately to a Portuguese mother) were Portuguese. In addition, children born in Portugal
to a foreign father (who was not in Portugal in his country’s service) were Portuguese, unless
they declared that they were not.8 This possibility of opting for the father’s citizenship by
expression of intent9 reduced the weight of ius soli (Ferreira 1870: 40; Gonçalves 1929: 518),
in comparison with the Constitutional Charter (which did not allow such a possibility). Lastly,
all those who were born on Portuguese soil to unknown parents or parents of unknown
citizenship were also deemed Portuguese.
        The Civil Code also included ius sanguinis a pater: children born abroad to a Portuguese
on the crown’s service were considered to be Portuguese (art. 18(5)). Ius sanguinis was still
conditional in other cases, since children born abroad to a Portuguese father (or illegitimately
to a Portuguese mother)10 would only acquire Portuguese citizenship at birth should they take
up residence in Portugal or declare that they wanted to be Portuguese (art. 18(3)).11
        The Civil Code provided for two ways to acquire citizenship after birth, specifically ex
lege acquisition of Portuguese citizenship by a foreign woman who married a Portuguese man
and naturalisation via a discretionary government act,12 provided that the foreign national met
the following legal requirements set out in art. 19:13

8
  Should the statement declining Portuguese nationality have been made by the minor’s legal agent, he or she can
withdraw it when he or she comes of age (art. 18(2)).
9
  By the person in question (if over the age of majority) or by the legal agent (if under age).
10
   The Civil Code kept the traditional limitation of ius sanguinis a mater to illegitimate children.
11
   The possibility of making this declaration instead of meeting the residence condition (not foreseen in the 1826
Charter), however, places greater emphasis on ius sanguinis.
12
   The Minister of Justice was the competent authority for granting or refusing naturalisation.
13
   Prior to the amendments made in 1910, the only requirements of foreign citizens were that they had reached
the age of maturity; had means of subsistence and had lived on Portuguese soil for at least one year. Foreign

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         1) having reached the age of maturity;
         2) having a means of subsistence;
         3) having lived on Portuguese soil for at least three years;14
         4) having a clean criminal record proved by a police records from both the country of
            origin and from Portugal;
         5) having performed all military duties in the country of origin.
Art. 22 of the Civil Code foresaw four ways of losing citizenship. In all of these cases, the same
provision provided for its reacquisition, which meant that the legislators of 1867 did not
consider the loss of citizenship to be definitive (Ramos 1992: 35). The first cause of loss of
Portuguese citizenship was naturalisation in another country.15 The person in question could
reacquire it by taking up residence in Portugal and expressing his or her wish to reacquire it.
This ex lege reacquisition was subject to these two legal requirements. The second ipso jure
cause of loss of citizenship was accepting, without the government’s permission, public office,
pension or honour from a foreign government. Unlike the former case, in the latter, the
reacquisition was via a discretionary government act. The third cause for loss of citizenship was
expulsion by judicial decision. This was merely a temporary loss, in that it was only valid while
the conviction was in effect. Once the sentence had been served, the person in question
automatically and ex lege reacquired Portuguese citizenship. Lastly, the Civil Code brought in
a new form of ex lege loss of citizenship: the marriage of a Portuguese woman to a foreign man
(unless she did not acquire the citizenship of her husband as a result of the marriage). The
woman would reacquire Portuguese citizenship should the marriage be dissolved, provided she
took up residence on Portuguese soil and made an expression of intent.

2.4. Law 2098 of 29 July 1959: mixed system with the prevalence of ius soli

Regarding the acquisition of citizenship at birth, the 1959 Act kept the traditional mixed system
but put greater emphasis on ius soli (Proença 1960: 21; Ramos 1996: 601). According to art. I
of the 1959 Act, Portuguese citizenship was acquired ex lege and automatically by those born
on Portuguese territory (ius soli), specifically by the child of a Portuguese father (or Portuguese
mother, should the father be stateless, unknown or of unknown citizenship),16 the child of a
stateless or unknown father or of unknown citizenship, and the child of a foreign father (or a
foreign mother, should the father be stateless, unknown or of unknown citizenship) if the parent
was not in Portugal in his or her country’s service.17 For the purpose of acquiring Portuguese
citizenship via ius soli, foundlings were presumed to have been born in Portugal. Ius sanguinis
only determined ex lege granting of Portuguese citizenship to the children born abroad to a
Portuguese father or mother18 if the parent was abroad in the service of the Portuguese state

citizens of Portuguese descendant did not necessarily have to fulfil these requirements provided they took up
residence in Portugal. This provision aimed to facilitate access for Brazilian nationals. (Ferreira 1870: 43).
14
   The period of residence was not required of a descendant of Portuguese citizens who had taken up residence in
Portugal. Foreign citizens married to Portuguese women and those who had performed notable services for the
nation could also be exempted from this condition (art. 19-2).
15
   The effects of loss of nationality did not encompass the wife and children, who would only lose their
nationality should they declare that they wanted to follow the nationality of their husband or father.
16
   In these cases, acquisition occurs via the conjunction of ius soli and ius sanguinis.
17
   Such a reference in the birth register excludes the presumption that Portuguese nationality has been acquired
on the basis of having been born in Portugal (art. 2 of the 1960 Nationality Regulation).
18
   Under the 1867 Civil Code, only extraterritorial ius sanguinis a pater was relevant.

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(art. II). This was the only case in which ius sanguinis independently and automatically
determined the acquisition of citizenship at birth. Apart from this case, ius sanguinis was only
relevant for acquiring citizenship at birth by declaration, which was a non-automatic way to
acquire citizenship. Children born abroad to a Portuguese parent not in the service of the
Portuguese state could only acquire Portuguese citizenship if they a) declared that they wished
to be Portuguese, b) registered in the Portuguese Register of Births, and c) voluntarily took up
residence in Portuguese territory and made this official with a declaration of residence at the
Central Registry Office (arts. IV and V of the 1959 Act). However, even if they met these
requirements, the government had the right to oppose and thus prevent Portuguese citizenship
from being granted (a new feature of the 1959 Act). Obtaining Portuguese citizenship in these
cases was therefore no longer considered to be an absolute right.19
        A foreign woman who married a Portuguese man would acquire her husband’s
Portuguese citizenship ex lege, unless she declared that she did not want to be Portuguese and
could prove that her own country’s legislation would not strip her of her original citizenship
(art. X of the 1959 Act).
        As to discretionary naturalisation, the 1959 Act contained the same arrangements as the
1867 Civil Code, as amended by the 1910 Decree, although it made it subject to more
conditions, such as decent moral and social behaviour and knowledge of the Portuguese
language. In addition, it continued to be a discretionary act of the government.20 In order to
make naturalisation easier for those foreigners with a true link to the Portuguese community,
art. XIII waived the residency and language requirements for the descendants of Portuguese
citizens. These requirements could also be waived by the government for foreign citizens who
married Portuguese women, or those who had performed or been called on to perform notable
service for the Portuguese state. Finally, art. XVII gave the government extraordinary powers
to grant naturalisation, with no further requirements, to those foreigners who came from
communities with Portuguese ancestors and who wished to become part of the Portuguese
community.21
        Art. XVIII (a) and (c) of the 1959 Act provided five grounds for the loss of Portuguese
citizenship. Only the first three led to an automatic loss of citizenship without the need for the
person concerned to declare his or her intent, while the last two were tantamount to renunciation
which required an expression of intent from the person concerned.
     1. Portuguese citizenship was lost when a Portuguese citizen voluntarily acquired foreign
        citizenship. The aim was to avoid dual citizenship. Acquiring foreign citizenship
        through naturalisation imposed by the state of residence did not lead to the automatic
        loss of Portuguese citizenship, but could lead to it on the basis of a government decision
        (art. XIX).
     2. Accepting public office or performing military service in a foreign state could also lead
        to losing Portuguese citizenship (ex lege), if the Portuguese citizen did not hold the

19
   The government’s right of opposition (which did not exist in earlier legislation) did not apply to ius soli
acquisition, which was ex lege and automatic.
20
   Thus, through a decree from the Portuguese Minister for Home Affairs, the government could grant nationality
through naturalisation to foreign applicants who met all the following requirements, set out in art. XII: 1) being
of age; 2) being able to make a living; 3) having a record of decent moral and social behaviour; 4) having
complied with the laws on military recruitment in their country of origin; 5) having an adequate knowledge of
the Portuguese language; 6) having lived on Portuguese soil for at least three years.
21
   The foreign citizens who were to benefit mainly from this arrangement were those from countries like Brazil,
which was historically linked to Portugal as a former colony.

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         citizenship of the other state in question as well, and did not leave office or service by
         the deadline set by the Portuguese government.22
     3. The marriage of a Portuguese woman to a foreigner automatically led to her loss of her
        Portuguese citizenship, unless she did not acquire her husband’s citizenship as a result
        of the marriage or declared prior to the wedding that she wished to keep her Portuguese
        citizenship. Furthermore, she would not lose her Portuguese citizenship if she rejected
        her husband’s citizenship, provided that the national law of her husband’s country
        allowed it (art. LX).
     4. Citizens born on Portuguese soil who declared that they no longer wanted to be
        Portuguese lost their Portuguese citizenship provided they held another citizenship.23
     5. Those on whom Portuguese citizenship had been conferred, or who had acquired it by
        an expression of intent made by their legal agent, also lost Portuguese citizenship if they
        declared that they did not wish to be Portuguese and proved that they held another
        citizenship.24
In all of the above cases (except (2)), the legislation not only considered the wishes of the person
in question, but also the general interest in avoiding statelessness since renunciation only led to
the loss of Portuguese citizenship if the person in question held another citizenship, and
therefore would not become stateless.
         Following a decision taken by the cabinet, the government could furthermore decree the
loss of Portuguese citizenship in the following three situations: 1) when a Portuguese with dual
citizenship behaves only like a foreigner; 2) when such a person has been convicted for a crime
against external security; or 3) has engaged in illicit activities to the benefit of a foreign country
or its agents and against the interests of the Portuguese state (art. XX).
        Based on the assumption that the loss of Portuguese citizenship was open to remedy, the
1959 Act, like its predecessor, provided ways in which citizenship could be reacquired. Those
who had lost their Portuguese citizenship for having acquired a foreign citizenship through
naturalisation could reacquire it provided they met the following two criteria: they took up
residence in Portugal and they expressed their intent to reacquire Portuguese citizenship. These
requirements applied to Portuguese women who had lost Portuguese citizenship through having
married a foreigner, allowing them to reacquire Portuguese citizenship following dissolution or
annulment of their marriage. Moreover, those persons who had lost Portuguese citizenship
because of a renunciation made before they came of age, by their legal agent, could reacquire
it when they came of age, should they be residing in Portugal and express this intent. In both
cases, meeting these requirements implied ex lege reacquisition (without the authorities’
involvement), and thus represented a true right for the persons concerned (art. XXII). In
addition, the government could decide that citizens who had lost Portuguese citizenship by
government decision, could reacquire it. Unlike the above situations, this required a
discretionary act by the government.

22
   The 1959 Act brought far-reaching changes compared to the 1867 Civil Code, which considered not only
holding public office in a foreign state, but also accepting any honour, pension or reward from a foreign state as
grounds for losing Portuguese nationality. In view of the development of international relations this precept was
considered to be too severe, which was why the 1959 Act removed it (Proença 1960: 105).
23
   This provision was aimed above all at children born to foreign parents and who had acquired Portuguese
nationality through ius soli, as well as their parents’ foreign nationality through the effects of ius sanguinis.
24
   In this case the legislator focused more on the Portuguese born abroad who had acquired Portuguese
nationality through ius sanguinis on the basis of a declaration made by their legal agent (art. XVIII(e)).

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2.5. Decree-Law 308-A/75 of 24 June 1974: the effects of decolonisation on Portuguese
citizenship

The process of decolonisation which was triggered by the Portuguese Revolution (25 April
1974) led to the creation of five new African countries: Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, São Tomé
e Principe, Angola and Mozambique.
        Decree-Law 308/75 of 24 June 1975 sought to resolve the impact the creation of these
new states had on Portuguese citizenship.25 The Decree-Law governed the issue of losing or
retaining Portuguese citizenship by those who had been born or were living in the Portuguese
overseas territories which had gained independence.
         It was assumed that these persons would acquire the citizenship of the new state. The
Decree-Law thus merely stipulated that Portuguese citizenship would be retained by those
persons who had not been born overseas but were living there (art. 1). In addition were those
who, despite having been born in the territory of the colonies, had maintained a special
connection with mainland Portugal by having been long-term residents there (art. 2). All those
not covered by one of the situations which enabled them to keep Portuguese citizenship would
lose it ex lege (art. 4).
       This legislation raised many questions about its interpretation and implementation. It
has generated and continues to generate much case law. It has also been criticised by legal
scholars because it led to the ex lege loss of Portuguese citizenship by thousands who had been
born or had settled in the newly-independent overseas territories without considering their
wishes and their effective links to Portugal. Furthermore, it fostered statelessness, whenever
those concerned did not acquire the citizenship of the new state (Ramos 1976: 340; Jalles 1984:
188; Santos 1993: 443).

2.6. Law 37/81 of 3 October 1981: mixed system giving prevalence to ius sanguinis

The 1959 Nationality Act remained in force until 1981 despite the fact that, to a certain extent,
it contradicted the 1976 Constitution. In 1981, a new Nationality Act was approved in Portugal
- Law 37/81 of 3 October, which aimed not only at achieving consistency between the
Nationality Act and the Constitution,26 at introducing the principles of non-discrimination27 and
of a fundamental right to citizenship,28 but also at profoundly reforming the acquisition of
citizenship at birth. However, it did retain some principles, such as avoiding statelessness and
the individual’s will in determining citizenship.
       These reforms were the result of the political and historical contexts of their time.
Portugal’s decrease in size after the decolonisation process of the 1970s, as well as the wish to

25
   This item of legislation was repealed by Law 113/88, of 29 December 1988.
26
   All political parties represented in parliament agreed on the need to make the Nationality Act compatible with
the new Constitution.
27
   The 1981 Act eradicated any form of discrimination between men and women or children born in or out of
wedlock.
28
   The concept of nationality as a fundamental right clearly influences the 1981 Nationality Act. On the one
hand, it reinforces the role of individual intent when determining nationality, in that nationality acquisition of
Portuguese children born abroad (ius sanguinis), children of foreigners born in Portugal (ius soli) as well as after
birth (filial and spousal transfer) now depend on a declaration of intent by the person in question (Ramos 1992:
119). On the other hand, as explained above, it decisively influences the legal provisions for the loss of
nationality, which now depend on a declaration of intent by the person concerned.

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move closer to European traditions in this area, led the legislators of 1981 to reduce the role of
ius soli. Furthermore, the strong flow of emigrants out of Portugal through the 1960s required
greater importance to be given to ius sanguinis as a means of preserving Portuguese citizenship
for the children of emigrants and as a substantial human resource for the state (Miranda 2004:
113; Ramos 1994: 117; Jalles 1984: 178). However, if the need to make the Nationality Act
consistent with the 1976 Constitution warranted consensus among the political parties with
parliamentary representation, the same cannot be said regarding the prevalence of ius sanguinis
over ius soli; regarding access to Portuguese citizenship for emigrants and their descendants; or
regarding the reacquisition of citizenship by those who had surrendered it voluntarily.29 It was
a new perception of Portugal as a small European territory with an emigrant population
estimated at more than four million people that led the main political forces, both those in power
and in the opposition, to pass a law which had as a key objective the facilitation of the right to
Portuguese citizenship for emigrants and their descendants spread around the world. 30
        The first break with the previous legislation (which encouraged the prevalence of ius
soli) concerns acquisition of citizenship at birth. This was changed to a mixed system, in which
greater importance was attached to the role of ius sanguinis and ius soli was restricted. The
acquisition of citizenship by the children of Portuguese born abroad (that is, through ius
sanguinis) no longer depended on criteria linked to residence in Portugal. A mere expression of
intent or the registration of the birth in the Portuguese civil register became sufficient. In
addition, since ius soli was no longer considered an autonomous criterion, major changes were
made concerning the children of foreigners born in Portugal. In order to prove that the birth in
Portugal was not merely by chance, acquisition of citizenship through ius soli became
dependent on an expression of intent and the parents having lived in Portugal for a period of
not less than 6 years (Ramos 1996: 610).
        Secondly, the 1976 Constitution enshrined the principle of non-discrimination towards
children born out of wedlock (art. 36 (4)) and imposed an end to discrimination between women
and men and legitimate and illegitimate children (Ramos 1994: 115; Ferreira 1987: 8). The 1981
Act implemented these provisions regarding the acquisition of citizenship at birth. Thus, ius
sanguinis a mater was made fully equal with ius sanguinis a pater, and all cases of parentage
were treated in the same way. In addition, the achievement of the principle of equality (art. 13)
and the banning of the discrimination between the sexes (art. 36) required changes to the
Nationality Act in order to bring an end to the influence of marriage on women’s acquisition or
loss of citizenship. The new Nationality Act provided for equality between men and women in
acquisition after birth as a result of marriage. Marriage to a Portuguese man or woman no longer
resulted in acquisition of citizenship, but instead became just one of the grounds for the
voluntary acquisition of Portuguese citizenship. The 1981 Act thus enshrined the principle of
citizenship being separate from marriage (Ramos 1996: 622).

29
   The government, at the time a centre-right coalition (the Democratic Alliance), upheld the principle of ius
sanguinis (Parliamentary Debates, Diary of the Assembly of the Republic 80. 1981: 3162). The Socialist Party
(PS), whilst in agreement with the new law that favoured access to nationality for emigrants and their
descendants, that is to say the principle of ius sanguinis, also defended the continuation of ius soli
(Parliamentary Debates, Diary of the Assembly of the Republic 80. 1981: 3184). The nationality problems
resulting from decolonisation and postcolonial immigration and the lack of access to Portuguese nationality by
an increasing number of children born in Portugal of Lusophone African origins did not appear to warrant the
intervention of any other members of parliament.
30
   The reason for this change was defended by the centre-right majority in the following way: [At the end of the
Empire, Portugal was] ‘a small territory with strong migratory phenomena’ (speech by Fernando Condesso from
the PSD, a party that was part of the majority that supported the Government. (Parliamentary Debates, Diary of
the Assembly of the Republic 80. 1981: 3178).

RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1 - © 2020 Author                                                                      9
Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra

        A third break from previous legislation was linked to the arrangements for loss of
citizenship, which became exclusively voluntary. This was grounded in the principle of
regarding the right to citizenship as an individual’s basic right and brought an end to the loss of
citizenship for political reasons or as a punishment (arts. 26(1) and 30(4) of the Constitution).
This curtailed any automatic loss of citizenship (ex lege), imposed by a decision from the
administrative authorities or the involuntary loss of Portuguese citizenship (Miranda 2004:
123). Loss of citizenship could no longer be used by the state as a means of punishing an
individual for not having a link to the Portuguese community or for not having been loyal to
the state. Instead, it became the exclusive domain of the individual’s will, in addition to
requiring a situation of dual citizenship in order to avoid statelessness (Ramos 1994: 129).
        The 1981 Act also introduced complete tolerance towards dual citizenship. It allowed
for dual citizenship and reacquisition of citizenship by all those who had lost it through previous
legislation, or as a result of voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship or due to marriage.
On the one hand, acquisition of Portuguese citizenship no longer relied in any way on
renouncing one’s foreign citizenship. On the other, acquisition of a foreign citizenship no longer
resulted in the loss of Portuguese citizenship, as was the case under previous legislation.
        Lastly, the 1981 Act brought about profound changes concerning the right of appeal.
The principle of effective jurisdictional protection of people’s rights (art. 20 of the Constitution)
and the nature of citizenship as a basic right required that appeals on matters pertaining to
Citizenship Law be lodged with the courts (Ramos 1992: 214). Under the terms of the 1959
Act, appeals concerning the acquisition, loss or reacquisition of citizenship could be lodged
with the Minister of Justice – an administrative authority – whose decisions could be appealed
in the Supreme Administrative Court. The 1981 Act made the Lisbon Court of Appeal the agent
for appealing against any and all acts pertaining to the acquisition, loss or reacquisition of
Portuguese citizenship – that is to say, a jurisdictional body.

2.7. Law 25/94 amending Law 37/81: restricting foreigners’ access to Portuguese
citizenship

Immigration to Portugal, particularly illegal immigration, increased significantly in the 1990s,
leading to the first amendment of the 1981 Act by Law 25/94 of 19 August 1994. What
concerned the government in 1994 was how to stem the growing number of immigrants who
were acquiring Portuguese citizenship. There was also concern about various scandals related
to fictitious marriages. The debate centred entirely on which restrictions should be placed on
foreigners’ rights to citizenship. Once the government’s proposal had been cleansed of a few
spurious attempts at xenophobia, the main political parties – the governing Social Democratic
Party (PSD), the Centre Social Democratic-Popular Party (CDS-PP) and the Socialist Party (PS)
voted in favour, while all the parties to the left of the Socialist Party (PS), voted against.31 The
aim of the new amendment was to make it more difficult for foreigners to obtain citizenship at
birth (via ius soli) and after birth (particularly through marriage or naturalisation).
         The grounds for citizenship for a child born to foreign parents in Portugal became more
restrictive. The law required not only that the parents had Portugal as their habitual place of
residence, but also that they held a residence permit. The aim of this was not only to exclude
the children of illegal immigrants from obtaining citizenship, but also to exclude those who

31
     Parliamentary Debates, Diary of the Assembly of the Republic 80, 1994: 2618.

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were in Portugal legally, but on the basis of a different permit, such as a work permit or permit
of stay32 (which covered a large percentage of foreigners living in Portugal).
       Furthermore, Law 25/94 introduced a distinction between foreigners from Lusophone
countries and others. It kept the minimum period of residence at six years for the former, but
increased it to ten years for the latter.
        In addition, the arrangements for acquiring Portuguese citizenship through marriage to
a Portuguese citizen were amended. The law required a minimum period of three years of
marriage for the spouse of a Portuguese citizen to acquire Portuguese citizenship. Furthermore,
the opposition by the state could now be founded on the applicant’s failure to prove an effective
link to the Portuguese community. Prior to 1994, the Public Prosecutor had to prove the
applicant’s obvious lack of integration into the Portuguese community in order to successfully
oppose the acquisition of citizenship through marriage. Since this proof was difficult to obtain,
the legislation of 1994 transferred the burden of proof by making it the foreign applicant’s duty
to prove the link. This then became one of the premises for acquiring citizenship.

2.8. Organic Law 1/2004: the reacquisition of Portuguese nationality

In order to eradicate the negative effects of earlier legislation on emigrant communities, Organic
Law 1/2004 of 15 January introduced two major changes to the reacquisition arrangements.
First, it removed the possibility for reacquisition to be opposed and established ex lege
acquisition whenever the loss of nationality had not been registered. Second, reacquisition was
made retroactive to the date of loss, thus allowing the children of emigrants born abroad to
acquire Portuguese nationality via ius sanguinis.

2.9. Organic Law 2/2006: a democratically inclusive reform

The election of a new Socialist Party government in 2005 introduced another change in the
citizenship policy. The approval of Organic Law 2/2006 of 17th April deeply changed the
Nationality Act. This reform was considered by some scholars as the most generous and the
most open-minded since the entry into force of Law 37/81 (Canas 2007: 521). Its main objective
was to increase the number of ways in which Portuguese citizenship could be acquired. This
objective was justified for several reasons. Demographics were causing concern, as a decrease
in the Portuguese population endangered economic stability, the social security system, and the
continuity of the Portuguese community. Political issues also provided justification, specifically
the desire to increase the relevance of the Portuguese in the international community (Canas
2007: 511). Finally, social concerns required an adjustment of the Nationality Act to manage
the internal shift of Portugal from a country of emigration to one of immigration. Given these
reasons, the adoption of more inclusive arrangements was imperative, especially with regard to
the integration of the immigrants of the second and third generations, whose citizenship did not
correspond to an effective link to the country. Their effective relationship with Portugal had not
been converted into legal citizenship.33

32
   Different from residence permits, a permit of stay (autorização de permanência) excluded the holder from
voting or applying for naturalisation in Portugal.
33
   This was the main reason invoked by the government for the amendment of the Nationality Act. See, Minister
of the Presidency, Parliamentary Debates, Diary of the Assembly of the Republic 54, 2005: 2457.

RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1 - © 2020 Author                                                                  11
Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra

        Thus, this reform has made naturalisation more appealing since the applicants became
entitled to acquire citizenship once they meet the respective requirements. Also, these
requirements were greatly changed by the reform. Some of them were eliminated (such as the
link to the Portuguese community and the existence of sufficient means of subsistence); others
were clarified, withdrawing some discretion from the authorities (such as the requirement of
decent moral and social behaviour, which was replaced by the absence of conviction for a crime
which carries a prison sentence of three years or more according to Portuguese law); and,
finally, others were simplified (such as the residency requirement, which was reduced from ten
to six years). These reforms caused an increase in the number of foreigners eligible to obtain
citizenship through naturalisation.
         Juridical reasons also demanded several changes to Law 37/81. First, the law needed
amending in order to fully integrate the European Convention on Nationality,34 especially its
art. 5(1), which forbids discrimination on grounds of national origin, and art. 6 (3)(e) and(f),
which considers the acquisition of citizenship by those who were born in and legally reside in
a certain territory. Finally, the wording of several articles needed to be clarified. The references
to territories under Portuguese administration had to be removed.35 Furthermore, the former
version used the term ‘valid residence permit’ as a requirement for some modes of acquisition
of citizenship. This concept needed to be clarified, as it implied a permanent link with
immigration law. This caused some constitutional problems36 and raised some doubts about the
type of the permit required37 and its application to the citizens of the European Union.38
        The government39 and the main political parties – Left Block (BE),40 the Greens,41
Portuguese Communist Party (PCP),42 Social Democratic Party (PSD)43 and Centre Social
Democratic-Popular Party (CDS-PP)44 – all presented different proposals for amending Law
37/81. They all agreed that the ius soli principle should be favoured, especially for immigrants
of the third generation, and that a subjective right to naturalisation with clear requirements
should be created. The result was an act with inclusive criteria which profoundly amended Law
37/81. Organic Law 2/2006 of 17th April was approved with the votes of the governing party
(Socialist Party - PS), Social Democratic Party (PSD), Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), and

34
   Portugal signed the European Convention on Nationality in 6 November 1997. It was approved by the parliament
through the Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic n. 19/2000, and ratified by the Decree of the President of
the Republic n. 7/2000. It was published in the Official Journal I-A, no. 55, of 6 March 2000. The Convention
entered in force in Portugal on 1 February 2002.
35
   Since the transfer of the administration of Macau to the People’s Republic of China in December 1999, there are
no more such territories.
36
   According to the Portuguese Constitution, the acquisition of Portuguese citizenship is a subject under the
exclusive competence of the parliament and the statutory discipline must take the form of an ‘Organic Law’. The
Constitution does not demand such requirements for immigration legislation. The full respect of the
parliamentary reserve demands that the nuclear aspects of the citizenship regime be fully regulated by an
Organic Law of the Parliament. Thus, a requirement for the acquisition of citizenship should not be dependent on
immigration law, which can be a governmental act.
37
   According to the immigration law in force, there are two types of residence permit (temporary and permanent).
From this arose a doubt about whether both types were relevant for the acquisition of citizenship (Silva
2004:123).
38
   These citizens do not need a ‘valid residence permit’ in order to reside in Portugal.
39
   Bill n. 32/X/1.
40
   Bill n. 18/X/1.
41
   Bill n. 31/X/1.
42
   Bill n. 40/X/1.
43
   Bill n. 170/X/1.
44
   Bill n. 173/X/1.

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the abstention of Centre Social Democratic-Popular Party (CDS-PP)45 and Left Block (BE).46
There was not a single dissenting vote. This was an unprecedented majority (80 per cent).
However, neither the original version of the Nationality Act of 1981, nor the several
amendments raised heated debates or political divisions. Quite the opposite: from 1981 until
the present, the Act of 1981 has reflected a broad and consensual understanding among the main
political forces about who is, as well as who should be, Portuguese.47
        As a result of this legislative reform the total numbers of acquisitions of Portuguese
citizenship rose dramatically, as we can see below in Figure 1. For example, in 2005
acquisitions in 2005 were slightly more than 3.000, whereas three years later, they already
amounted to more than 24.000.48
       This extraordinary development was not due to a significant immigration flow as the
foreign population with legal status actually decreased in 2005. Instead, it was a direct
consequence of this legislative reform that favoured the residence-based mode of citizenship
acquisition. After the adoption of the 2006 reform, the Nationality Law was amended several
times, with the same aim of broadening the opportunities for the acquisition of the Portuguese
nationality.
        The Organic Law n. 1/2013, of 29 July was aimed at providing naturalization, with the
exemption of some requirements, to descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews. Two years
later, the Organic Law 8/2015, of 22 June introduced new amendments. Their aim was to
establish measures aimed at protecting the community against potentially dangerous members,
in the context of the security measures adopted in almost Members States of the European
Union after the rise of terrorist attacks in Europe. Involvement in activities related to the practice
of terrorism became an exclusionary clause for naturalization-based acquisitions and a ground
for opposition to voluntary acquisition by marriage or civil partnership.
        In the following month, the Parliament approved the Organic Law 9/2015 of 29th July.
This law introduced a new category of persons that could acquire Portuguese nationality by
birth: the grandchildren of Portuguese citizens. Its aim was, thus, to reinforce the ties with the
Portuguese communities in the exterior. The changes introduced by this law also apply to
grandchildren of Portuguese citizens who were born abroad on a date prior to its entry in force.
        Finally, Organic Law n. 2/2018, of 5th July represented the most important amendment
after the 2006 reform. The amendment involved four important topics, in addition to some
minor changes. First, the most important change concerned the ex lege acquisition at birth in
the form a moderate version of ius soli. Second, naturalization has been facilitated. Third, some
provisions were introduced, aiming at protecting unaccompanied minors entering the territory.
As in other EU Members States, Portugal has faced an increasing number of unaccompanied
children arriving at the borders, especially since 2016. According to the Portuguese law, these
children shall be protected under the National System for Protection of Children and Youngsters
in Danger and be accommodated in legally recognized institutions. A subjective right to their
naturalization was recognised. Finally, new provisions aimed at protecting the principle of legal
certainty were adopted, following some cases that entailed annulation of several nationality
acquisitions.

45
   This party did not agree with the elimination of some naturalisation requirements, as we shall address further.
46
   This party wanted the consecration of an unconditional ius soli principle.
47
   For a more detailed analysis on the political debate that took place in the political arena, see Carvalhais 2010:
p. 18.
48
   https://estatisticas.justica.gov.pt/sites/siej/pt-pt/Paginas/Atos_registos_centrais.aspx

RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1 - © 2020 Author                                                                          13
Ana Rita Gil and Nuno Piçarra

       As a result of all the above-mentioned amendments, the acquisition of the Portuguese
nationality has increased substantially in the recent years (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Acquisition of citizenship after birth, Portugal, 1996-2018

 35000

 30000

 25000

 20000

 15000

 10000

     5000

         0
             1996   1998     2000    2002     2004     2006     2008    2010       2012    2014   2016    2018

Sources: Ministry of Justice, Directorate General of the Justice Politics (data 1996-2007)49 and National Statistics
Institute (data 2008-2018) 50.

3. The current citizenship law

3.1. Main modes of acquisition and loss of citizenship

The general objective of the 2006 reform was to broaden the criteria for the acquisition of
Portuguese citizenship and to facilitate the respective process of application. Yet, the current
citizenship regime can still be described as a mixed system of acquisition at birth, with a
predominance of ius sanguinis. In fact, the general principle that the descendants of Portuguese
citizens are considered to Portuguese citizens is still applied today (Canas 2007: 520).
Nevertheless, Organic Law 2/2006 reinforced the ius soli principle.

Automatic acquisition of citizenship at birth
According to the Nationality Act, the following persons acquire citizenship at birth ex lege
through ius sanguinis:

49
     https://estatisticas.justica.gov.pt/sites/siej/pt-pt/Paginas/Atos_registos_centrais.aspx
50

https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0008368&xlang=pt&conte
xto=bd&selTab=tab2

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           (a) The child of a Portuguese (mother or father) who was born on Portuguese territory
               (art. 1(1)(a));51
           (b) The child of a Portuguese (mother or father) who was born abroad, if the parent
               was serving the Portuguese state (art. 1(1)(b)).
The law also provides for the ex lege acquisition of citizenship at birth through ius soli. First,
this applies in the traditional case of those who were born on Portuguese territory and who do
not have any other citizenship (art. 1(1)(g)).52 Second, the 2006 reform introduced a new mode
of ex lege acquisition of citizenship at birth which gives relevance to the ius soli principle. It
concerns the immigrants of the third generation (double ius soli) (art. 1(1)(e)). It is an automatic
(ex lege) acquisition and only requires that one of the parents was born in Portuguese territory
and that such parent resided there at the time of the child’s birth, regardless of holding a legal
permit. This arrangement is also applicable if such a parent was born in Portugal and resides in
Portugal at the service of their own state (for example as a diplomat) (Ramos 2007: 201). Silva
considered the former version (which did not foresee this possibility) was unconstitutional,
since it disrespects the fundamental right to citizenship and the principle of equality (as it
granted exactly the same protection to immigrants of both second and third generations)
(2004:107). This new arrangement is applicable to the individuals who were born in Portuguese
territory before the entry into force of such arrangement. Finally, all persons born in Portuguese
territory acquire ex lege Portuguese nationality provided that at the time of birth one of the
parents has been legally resident for at least two years (art. 1(1) (f)). However, contrarily to the
previous point, this regime is not applicable to children born to parents who were in Portugal at
the service of their own State.
        In all of these cases the persons concerned are of Portuguese origin, under the simple
terms of the law, as long as the following conditions are stated in the birth registration: the
Portuguese citizenship of either of the parents (or no mention of foreign citizenship of the
parents - art. 3(a) of the Nationality Regulation); when born abroad, a statement that the mother
or father were serving the Portuguese state on the date of birth (art. 7 of the Nationality
Regulation); or a statement that no other citizenship is held (art. 3(c) of the Nationality
Regulation).
        Regarding immigrants of the third generation, since 2006 children born in Portugal to a
person also born in Portugal automatically acquire Portuguese nationality at birth. The ancestor
has to prove that he or she was born in Portugal through his or her birth registry and that he or
she resides in Portugal (art. 4(3) of the Nationality Regulation). Unless they declare otherwise,
persons born in Portugal are of Portuguese origin, under the simple terms of the law and
independently of an express declaration of intent, provided that one of their parents has resided
in the territory for two years. Previously, the Nationality Law only allowed voluntary
acquisition at birth through ius soli, provided that one of the parents had lived legally in Portugal
for at least five years. The new solution not only decreased the necessary parent’s residence
period but also changed the very nature of the nationality acquisition: from now on, these
second-generation immigrants are of Portuguese origin, under the simple terms of the law and
independently of an express declaration of intent.
       This amendment aimed at responding to immigrants’ groups and associations’ claims,
who have been advocating for the consecration of a pure ius soli solution in the Portuguese legal

51
   Acquisition of Portuguese nationality through the joint effect of ius soli and ius sanguinis (territorial ius
sanguinis).
52
   As explained above, the primary purpose is to prevent statelessness rather than to introduce ius soli, since ius
soli is only applied to prevent the person in question from being left without a nationality (Ramos 1992: 132;
Jalles 1984: 179).

RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1 - © 2020 Author                                                                         15
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